Today's Biggest Loser

America's School Children

This week, president elect Obama has nominated an old Chicago basketball buddy to head the nation's education system. Arne Duncan is the 44 year old chief of Chicago's public school system. His bio is impressive enough: magna cum laude from Harvard with a degree in Sociology. This may help explain why he is pushing so hard for a gay only high school in the city and to pay students for good grades. The rub is that neither Obama nor Duncan support public schools. Obama's daughters attend the University of Chicago Laboratory School, which Duncan also attended. The bigger rub is that even Chicago teachers do not support public schools. 38% of public school teachers in Chicago send their kids to private schools. That figure is very telling. Studies like the 2004 Thomas Fordham Institute report find big city public school teachers to be more likely than the general population they serve to have their own children in private schools. So what does Mr. Duncan offer the education system in America. More money spent, more specialized schools, no vouchers and no real improvement. Congratulations kids...in all of this, you are the biggest loser.

Colin Powell Thinks You are an Idiot

Remember way back when, when Colin Powell liked John McCain in the primary election? Then he shuffled as he so often does and endorsed Barry for president. Now, he still thinks he has some significance or bearing on the Republican party. He was never in the party before, so why start now? He wants to move conservatives to the middle. He wants to hi-jack the party and make it moderate. Now he is blasting talk radio, the ones that keep the fire going for the base. "Can we continue to listen to Rush Limbaugh? Is this really the kind of party that we want to be when these kinds of spokespersons seem to appeal to our lesser instincts rather than our better instincts?" Well, we sure as hades aren't going to listen to you. Rush and Sean actually endorsed McCain. You endorsed Obama. What makes you think you can tell true conservatives anything. You built your career on the backs of Republicans and never once showed an ounce of gratitude. "I think the party has to stop shouting at the world and at the country. I think that the party has to take a hard look at itself, and I've talked to a number of leaders in recent weeks and they understand that." What leaders? Pelosi and Schumer?

The Republican party is searching for leadership. They are wandering a bit right now. Someone will soon step up and take the role of leading us into the next cycle. Colin Powell is not that man. Colin Powell is a wolf in sheep's dress blues. Colin Powell thinks you are an idiot.